2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Ohio

[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
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2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Columbus State Community College earned the #1 spot for value among public health schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Public Health graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Wilberforce University, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Wilberforce University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,448 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,674 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Wilberforce University earn a median of $31,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wilberforce University admits about 40% of applicants.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,373. Public Health graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Set against $26,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,336. Early-career public health graduates make about $63,255. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $18,500. Early-career public health graduates make about $48,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for public health value this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,836 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $58,009. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo placed #7 among the best values for public health. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #8 spot for public health value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,884 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $45,413. That is a strong return on a $28,884 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in public health this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $37,883. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in public health this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Public Health graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $47,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Rio Grande placed #11 among the best values for public health. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,560. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,044 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Rio Grande generally make around $46,611. Set against $27,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for public health value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $28,625 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $55,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #13 among the best values for public health. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $54,089. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $37,533. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Denison University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,000. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $25,360. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Set against $25,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University placed #16 among the best values for public health. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $55,623. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.